News

High-Level of explosive gas-Plantation Park

November 22, 2017

On Wednesday, 22 November 2017, at 1306 hours, your Millville Volunteer Fire Company was alerted to respond to the 34000 Block of Maryland Drive in the Plantation Park subdivision to assist Ambulance 84 and several Sussex County Paramedics units on a medical call.

The arriving units then discovered from the paramedic on scene their electronic monitoring devices were indicating there was a danger of explosives in the home. Bethany Beach VFC was also alerted to respond to this incident to assist.

EMS Chief John Watson, Captain Andrew Klink and Chief Bill Bowden Jr. (BBVFC) collectively worked to distinguish the hazards they were tackling and formulate a strategy to eliminate any exposures to others in this subdivision.

For the second time in is as many days, Chief Watson requested their new Unmanned Aircraft Vehicle (Drone) be deployed to provide aerial views if an evacuation became eminent. These aerial views also provided pictures of the rear of the home. By utilizing the UAV, this decreases the chances of any human being injured, or worse in an explosion.

Captain Klink commanded the entry team of firefighters and pinpointed the source. No injuries were sustained by the First Responders. The source of the danger was eliminated.

As a side note to this article, as the author, I could see the genuine worry in the faces of the command officers developing their plan to enter without risking injury to their crew. Their monitoring devices were depicting high-levels of some type of gases in the home. Kudos to John, Andrew, and Bill Jr.

Tony Petralia, Social Media Officer-UAV Pilot